Instant Hit: Blue Orchid- The Flood

"The Flood" was a debut release for the Manchester group Blue Orchid which was released in 1981 on Rough Trade (UK). This was a double A side record which also featured the song "Disney Days". This song had a some psychedelic touch, mixing with post punk sound.

Gang Of Four Minus Two

The original and best-loved line-up of famed post-punk icons Gang of Four reunited in 2005 to great acclaim and success - unfortunately all good things must come to an end. Bassist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham are moving on, although singer Jon King and guitar-player Andy Gill will continue, focusing on writing and recording new music as Gang of Four. Burnham last performed with the band at All Tomorrow’s Parties in the UK in December 2006, while Allen played a few shows alongside drummer Mark Heaney in 2007, and recently worked on new material with King and Gill.

Yazoo's Reconnected Tour Inteview

Earlier this year Yazoo announced that they will reunite for some tour dates. This is an interview where Vince Clark and Alison Moyet talk about Yazoo and the Reconnected tour 2008.

ABC- Traffic

ABC have released the new album 'Traffic' on 28th of April this year. The album is released on the label Borough Music and it is available on their official website. The first single "The Very First Time" has been released as a download in March and can be downloaded from 7Digital.


Instant Hit: Blue Peter- Up To You

Blue Peter released their second EP Up to You in 1982. This release included some of their first singles, "Chinese Graffiti" and "Around You". For this feature we would like to present the dance funky EP title  track. 

Retrovosion: Gang Of Four- I Love A Man In A Uniform

Invisible Zoo- In This Zoo

The American Synthpop pioneers Invisible Zoo have released their previously not released album 'In This Zoo' after 25 years. As they say, these New Wave gems aren't clever remakes or remixes, they are the real deals recorded 25 years ago and mastered freshly to satisfy your thirst for real 80's new wave rock music that you have never heard before!

For more info and the tracks check
http://www.invisiblezoo.com/



Portishead- Third

'Third' is the third studio album by the trip hop group Portishead. It will be officially released tomorrow, on Monday, April 28, 2008. It is their first release in 10 years, and their first studio album in 11 years.The first single from this album was "Machine Gun," which made its radio and download debut on March 18, 2008. A UK one-sided 12 inch vinyl release was set for release on April 14, 2008.



John Foxx- A New Kind Of Man

John Foxx's new live album 'A New Kind Of Man' will be released exclusively through Townsend Records on Monday 28th April, 2008. The album was recorded on the 2007 Metamatic UK tour and features 17 tracks, including the singles 'Burning Car', 'No-One Driving' and 'Underpass', as well as B-sides such as 'Film One' and 'This City'. The artwork is designed by John Foxx and features the classic 'empty suit' image as the cover.

http://www.metamatic.com/

Also released this year a collaboration between Jori Hulkkonen and John Foxx "Dislocated"
http://burningflame.forumotion.com/next-wave-f5/next-wave-video



Microdisney

Microdisney was an Irish group which began recording in their native town of Cork, Ireland, producing a muted, heavily melodic, atmospheric sound. The group consisted of: Cathal Coughlan, vocals/keyboard, Sean O'Hagan, guitar, Jon Fell, bass and Dave Galvin, drums. They released several albums and singles during the mid and late 80's.

Their first few singles, including 1983's "Pink Skinned Man" were produced by Dave Feeley and released on small indie labels like Kabuki. After relocating to London, they signed to Rough Trade and tapped John Porter (producer of The Smiths) to produce their debut album, 'Everybody's Fantastic'. At this time the band became acquainted with John Peel, who championed their music and gave them the first of several Peel Sessions which also gave Microdisney a wider audience.

Soon after, bassist Jon Fell and drummer Tom Fenner were added as a permanent rhythm section, Microdisney's sound gradually became more commercial and chart oriented, as heard on their 1985 release, 'The Clock Comes Down the Stairs', and its corresponding single "Birthday Girl". Despite this stylistic shift, Coughlan's lyrics grew increasingly sardonic and scathing. They wrote about people- the people who let it all happen. They peered deep into the human soul and found fear, insecurity, ignorance, greed, apathy. Sometimes they still even had time to laugh. They wrote about love, about sex, about lifestyle, about politics and usually it took just one 3 minute song to cram it all in. A song about nuclear war "Town to Town" was a rock-along sing song about yuppies attempting to live normal lives amid a nuclear holocaust. Their 1987 single "Singer's Hampstead Home" is often described as an attack on Boy George (of Culture Club fame) and the media circus that surrounded his post Culture Club years.

In 1988, with chart success and mainstream acceptance having continually eluded them, Microdisney disbanded. After they disbanded Coughlan formed The Fatima Mansions and O'Hagan formed The High Llamas, retaining Jon Fell. Post break up two further compilations were issued of previously released material - 'Big Sleeping House' a Collection of Microdisney's Finest Moments, and the 'Peel Sessions' which has most of their collected BBC John Peel sessions apart from the last one.